Holdfast for cables



NOV. 24, 1931. MARAGUGLIQ I HOLD-FAST FOR CABLES Filed April 18, 1930 iimm Patented Nov. 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FRANK MARAGUGLIO, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 7 HOLDFVAST FOR CABLES Application filed April 18,

' This invention relates to hold-fast devices particularly adapted for use in securing cables, rods and the like to a support, the invention beingespecially adapted for use with armored electric cable commonly known as BX. The present application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 300,297 filed August 17, 1928.

The primary object of the present invention isthe provision of a hold-fast equipment for the purposes stated which includes a holding member made of a single length of material, shaped to provide a relatively wide flat striking surface, and relatively heavy side arms, each of which includes a plurality of oppositely inclined portions, so that the holdfast may be readily driven without danger of bending the penetrating arms and injuring the cable.

Another object is the provision of a staple for use in securing BX cable and the like to a support,'the staple including side arm portions equipped with means for preventing the staple from being driven into the support beyond the point necessary to secure the cable firmly in place, thus avoiding the danger of injuring the cable by crushing the same.

Still another object is the provision of a hold-fast device which, when secured in place about the rounded armored cable will engage a plurality of convolutions at the top, and also at the sides of the cable, with the oppositely inclined portion of each side arm engaging a plurality of convolutions of the cable, so that the cable is squarely held against movement on its support.

Still another object is the provision of a staple member having oppositely inclined portions at each side, these oppositely inclined portions being adapted to perform a dual function of securely gripping the cable and serving as means to limit the distance the staple can ordinarily be driven into the suport. P Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter specifically pointed out, or will become apparent, as the specification proceeds.

With the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides in a certain novel con- 1930. Serial No. 445,458.

struction and combination and arrangement of parts, clearly described in the following specification and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which latter shown embodiment of the invention as at present preferred. 9

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the staple member forming part of the present equipment. I

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional side View illustratin the complete hold-fast in use. 7

igure 4 is a transverse sectional View through the hold-fast equipment shown in Figure 3. v

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the hold-fast as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the present hold-fast equipment as shown includes means for securely holding a cable of the BX type, here indicated at 10, upon a support 11. This support 11 is adapted to cooperate with a staple-like member 12 view of the staple member in in securing the cable 10 in place at a plurality of points of contact." r

In the present instance the staple member 12 is formed from a single length of relatively heavy metal, and includes a cross bar 13 at the head of the staple, and a pair of side arms 14 and 15, these side arms 14: and 15 including substantially parallel penetrating portions 16 and 17, respectively.

The cross bar 13 includes a substantially straight median portion arranged at an inclination so that this straight median portion substantially bisects the convolutions of a plurality of the coils 18 of the cable 10, as seen at 19,and adjoining integral reversely curved portions 20 and 21, respectively, the ends of these reversely curved portions 20 and 21 being preferably distant from each other to such an extent that they extend just slightly beyond the convolutions of the coils 18 disected by the inclined median portion of the cross bar 13. i

The construction is preferably such that the reversely curved portions 20 and 21-merge into downwardly rounded portions 22 and rangements shown and described, which are- 23, respectively, which downwardly rounded portions cross the rounded surface of the cable 10 at a convolution which lies substan tially intermediate the reversely curved portions 20 and 21. These downwardly rounded portions 22 and 23, merge into oppositely inclined portions 24 and 25, respectively; and the oppositely inclined portions 24 and 25, in turn, merge into reversely inclined portions 26 and 2'7, respectively, the oppositely inclined portions 24 and 25 having rounded junctures with the reversely inclined portions 26 and 27. The arms 14 and 15 respectively,-which extend downward from the reversely inclined portions 26 and27, respectively, are preferably parallel.

The cross bar 13 with the reversely curved portions 20 and 21 affords a flat striking sur face of substantial area; and when the staple member has been driven home, the head of the staple member, due to its peculiar shape, is especially capable of securely holding the cable by engagement with a plurality of convolutions of the cable. Also, the arrangement of the downwardly rounded portion and the contiguous reversely curved portions at each side of the staple, is such that the convolutions of the cable are engaged at a inultiplicity of points at the sides of the cable. 30

Thus the cable is very securely held in place by the staple member in combination-with the support 11.

Means are provided to prevent the staple member from being driven too far into the support under a blow of an ordinary force. In this instance the reversely inclined port-ions 26 and 27 in addition to their purpose of engaging the convolutions of the'cable perform an additional function of acting as stops; and thus damage to the cable is effectively prevented.

The present staple 12 may be used. for at= taching wires, rods or any type of cable or the like, though the construction here shown is particularly adapted for use with BX cable. The head of the staple has a wide, flat striking surface; and this head, together with the other contiguous portions of the staple, engage the convolutions of the cable at a great many points of contact, so that the cable is securely held in place without the V necessity of driving the staple into such an extent as mightbe likely to crush or damage the cable, a defect that has characterized old forms of securing devices heretofore employed.

The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention; therefore, itis the wish not to be limited to the precise arpended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

What I claim as new is:

1. A staple including a head portion and a pair of depending arms,having penetrating portions, said staple formed from a single length of material, said head portion including a cross bar having a substantially straight median portion arranged at an inclination, reversely curved portions at the ends of said medianportion, oppositely directed downwardly rounded portions adjacent saidreversely curved portions, and a plurality of oppositely inclined portions between each reversely curved portion and the lower end of the arm, said oppositely -in-' clined portions having rounded junctures, the lowermost inclined portions of said arms being adapted to constitute stops .to limit the penetration of said staple into asupport and said depending arms being curved in parallel planes, and being uniformly spaced from each other throughout.

2. A hold-fast equipment for securing cable of the BX-type to a support, including, in combination, a staple member formed from a single length .;of relatively heavy .metal, including a head portion and a pair signature. v

FRANK MARAGUGLIO.

as aforesaid,-by way of illustration merely.

In other words the scope of protectioncontempflated is to be taken solely from the ap- 

